Claude Bosi joins an all-star list of chefs who have been awarded the accolade over the years including Tom Kerridge, Nathan Outlaw and Daniel Clifford. And he also adds five rosettes to his collection of accolades this year.
Speaking to The Staff Canteen, he said: "What a year! It's all down to team work and to be recognised by other chefs is just a fantastic achievement, I'm very pleased."
He added: "I'd taken my tie off, I was ready to go home when I saw the list of such fantastic cooks so to win was unbelievable. I've just said to my team next year we have to cook and we're following John Williams who I spoke to earlier and told him he had just given us all a lesson in how to cook for a 1000 people! So no pressure!"
Simon Numphud, Managing Director at AA Hotel & Hospitality Services said: “Twenty years on from arriving in the UK, Claude’s passion for his craft remains undiminished as does his commitment to the stove. His achievements speak for themselves and it comes as no surprise that his peers have chosen him for this ultimate industry award.”
There were three five rosette winners at the ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel: Bibendum, Core by Clare Smyth and Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms.
Mark Birchall, chef owner of Moor Hall, which only received four rosettes in January, said: "It's amazing! As a chef you dedicate your whole life to this industry, you give so much and all you want to be is top of your game. In just 18 months to achieve five rosettes is phenomenal."
Core is Clare Smyth's first solo venture and she said: "It was totally unexpected. We just keep working every day and doing what we know - it's not about me it's about the team and we are so focused on being the best that we can be."
17 restaurants in the UK hold five AA rosettes and Bohemia is the only restaurant in the Channel Islands to have achieved this award.
Six restaurants also achieved four rosettes, these were Adam Reis at The French, Burlington Restaurant, Diner by Heston, Driftwood, The Man Behind The Curtain, Tassili and The Tudor Room at Great Fosters.
The AA Lifetime Achievement Award, introduced in 2006, recognises professionals within the hospitality industry who have committed their lives to the pursuit of perfection within their discipline. Winners of this award are to be congratulated for making significant fundamental contributions to the industry which have had a notable impact and must have demonstrated a lifetime commitment to progress in their field.
In February 2018, this year's winner, John Stauss retired after 23 years as General Manager of the five-red-AA-star, 193-bedroom Four Seasons Hotel London Park Lane and 21 years as Regional Vice-President. He has had over 50 years in the hospitality sector.
John said: "I was very surprised to learn that I had been chosen for the AA 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award. To receive such a recognition from an organisation which I greatly admire makes me very happy and totally grateful to the AA and also to many valiant and tireless colleagues over the years."
Full list of winners at the AA Restaurant Guide 2019 Hospitality Awards:
College Restaurant of the Year:The Brasserie, Milton Keynes College, Milton Keynes
New Red Stars
Every year AA inspectors select the best hotels within each star rating. These hotels stand out as the very best in the British Isles and are known as ‘Inspectors’ Choice’ hotels.
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